Effects of methanol extract of Lindera Myrhha on the melanin synthesis of B16f10 melanoma cells

Abstract

To evaluate the potential of herbal species in treatment of hyperpigmentation, this study focuses on the effect of methanol extract of Lindera myrhha on the melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. Lindera myrhha showed low cytotoxicity at even high concentration. The methanol extract of this plant could inhibit the melanin synthesis in the dose dependent manner. At the concentration of 200 μg/ml, it could inhibit 42.58% of melanin formation in the B16F10 melanoma cells. The methanol extract of Lindera myrhha slightly inhibited in vitro mushroom tyrosinase activity (5.45%) at a concentration of 200 μg/ml and had a significant inhibitory effect on cellular tyrosinase activivity (36.35%). This plant also showed high free radical scavenging activity with IC₅₀ = 41 mg/ml. This is the first report on activity of this kind in Lindera myrhha. In conclusion, this plant could be used as an effective whitening ingredient in cosmetic products.